New Look

Chanel, in disgrace after the war, reopened her salon in 1953. One European reporter commented; "since the day when Chanel first introduced it, has been absolutely transformed, and now, in the form in which she uses, has a shoddy, lifeless appearance"

But American buyers, it seems did not care about Chanel's War-time activities, and by 1956 were purchasing her designs in large number. By 1960 Chanel's little suits had once more bought youthful simplicity back into fashion. When she reopened she attacked the New Look as backward looking:

Elegance in clothes means being able to move freely, to do anything with ease....... those heavy dresses that won't pack into aeroplane luggage, ridiculous. All those boned and corseted bodices - out with them. what's the good of going back to the rigidity of the corset? Now woman go in for simpler lives.